Linden Row: Preserving and Reimagining a Richmond Landmark

Just about eight blocks from Jefferson’s Capitol, Linden Row remains one of the finest surviving rows of Greek Revival townhouses in America. Built between 1847 and 1853, these homes have witnessed remarkable stories: Edgar Allan Poe is said to have played in the garden, Virginia Randolph Ellett founded a school here that later became St. Catherine’s, and generations of Richmond families left their mark within its walls.

In 1988, Glavé & Holmes transformed the seven townhouses into an award-winning 70-room boutique inn, carefully balancing preservation and innovation. Doric porticoes, parlors, verandas, and courtyards were restored with fidelity, while interiors received new life through the restoration of plasterwork, marble fireplaces, and antique furnishings. At the time, our Interiors team shaped the inn’s character by pairing historic pieces with finishes and palettes that were contextually appropriate for the late 1980s, creating interiors that felt elegant and true to the building’s origins.

One of the joys of being a 60-year-old firm is the opportunity to return to projects decades later, continuing to tell the evolving story of a building and its inhabitants. In 2023, our current Interiors studio revisited Linden Row, bringing a fresh take to the guest spaces. While design styles naturally change over time, the careful work of our team ensured that updates respected Linden Row’s historic identity while offering a renewed sense of comfort and sophistication for today’s visitors.

Linden Row endures not just as architecture, but as a living landmark—a place where preservation, interior design, and history intersect to create spaces that evolve while keeping Richmond’s story alive.